[Diagnosis of speech retardation and early intervention]

In the diagnosis of speech retardation, not only speech production and comprehension, but the assessment of interpersonal relationships is important as an indicator of non-language development. The newly revised K method developmental examination ("Shinban K-shiki Kensahou") is widely used as an assessment for preschool children. I think the Enjouji method analytical developmental examination for infant and preschool children ("Enjouji-shiki Bunsekiteki Kensahou") is a simple and useful examination scale of developmental delay because it includes the category of interpersonal relationship. Developmental language disorder (DLD) is the most frequently noted (4.3%) in the general population as seen in our research of speech retardation of 1 year-6 month examination in Ota-ku district. Some academic societies of children warn that TV watching for a long time causes speech retardation or psychiatric disorders, but it seems to me that this influence is of limited significance. To assess autism adequately we made a checklist that includes concrete behavioral abnormalities based on the criteria of DSM-IV. The criteria of DLD are diverse and are not currently standardized now. I proposed, therefore, a criterion by unifying them.